Shropshire-born Marko Bulmer has proved he is a real-life action hero with his military exploits across the world. He told Antony Parkdale, that his greatest achievement is closer to home.

Modest father-of-three Marko Bulmer has fought in war zones, explored treacherous jungle and desert terrain across the world.

And in his spare time he co-ordinates space missions for NASA.

Not only does his work take him from war torn countries to the edge of the solar system - he competes in iron man triathlon competitions as well.

Brimming with all the characteristics more fitting of an action hero - the modest major puts it all down to being 'fortunate' and says his greatest achievement is his three children.

"There is potentially a huge responsibility in both jobs I do, whether it is taking care of people around you or operating expensive equipment," he said. "I don't think I'm doing anything that extraordinary, especially when you look at other people in other jobs who volunteer their time.

"Everybody has an amazing story of some sort, and I don't consider myself to be that unique at all. I'm very lucky because I've found two things I'm very passionate about - one in civilian life and one in uniform."

Growing up near Tenbury Wells, Shropshire, Mr Bulmer studied to become a geologist before being lured across the Atlantic to Washington DC to conduct a range of scientific research projects.

Perhaps the most exciting of these is his ongoing space exploration work as part of a team for active NASA spacecraft missions at the Goddard Space Center in Maryland, a role which involves selecting landing sites for Mars rovers.

"My civilian job is to do with where NASA are going, I have to think about what instruments to put on the space craft for their missions.

"When the NASA space crafts get to their destinations - which could be Mars, Venus, or even the moons of Jupiter, what they do when they get there is my responsibility. It's a job that is very exciting, but doesn't have much security because some of the missions can last for years, or be unsuccessful.

"Some of the things you see on the surface of the Earth's oceans are fascinating, and can be equally as exciting and extraordinary as the things you see on Mars.

"I got involved in hard-surface planets that had a sun, such as Mars and Venus and the Moon, that you can actually put things on. Neptune - a gas planet - I don't get involved with," he added.

His action-packed life has seen him serve an active role in the US National Guard and the British Territorial Army.

But towards the end of 2007 Maj Bulmer, who is originally from Hereford, decided to go back to his roots, taking a sabbatical from his career in America, to take up the post at Dawley Bank TA Centre.

"On 9/11 I was waiting to get on a flight at an airport in New York. My wife was stuck in traffic outside the Pentagon when the plane hit. It had a personal impact on us, as well as a profound impact on the country.

"I was training with the US National Guard at the time and, from that point on, I saw a strengthening of the links between the National Guard and the Territorial Army," he added. "It started to get me thinking about taking a more active role in the TA back in Britain. I did a tour in Iraq in 2004 and, in some ways, that also impacted on my decision."

Now Mr Bulmer has taken the post of officer commanding a squadron of the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry.

And considering his active career, you might think the 41-year-old might want to put his feet up in his spare time.

But he actually loves nothing more than competing in gruelling tough guy triathlons across the world.

"I've competed in ironman triathlons across the globe and I've done OK in them - I'm in the top 20 of my age group."